Are you a wellness warrior? or a Culture clubber? or what about a bucket lister? – whatever your vibe these are the places to visit …
Main featured image via unsplash.com.
THE WELLNESS WARRIORS
WHO: Their bodies are their temples. These travellers are always the first in the queue to try the latest treatments. You’ll spot them at check-in wearing Lululemon leggings and rose quartz crystal necklaces to help keep them aligned. Other in-flight essentials include some ceremonial cacao to add to hot water (from Magic Earth Cacao) which enhances their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
WHERE: Palmaïa -The House of AïA, Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
WHAT: This predominantly plant-based resort is known for its progressive wellness concept designed to create a connection between humans and nature through immersive jungle and beach experiences and its “Architects of Life” activity programme.
It’s suitable for both new and more experienced wellness aficionados. Guests can choose from a number of holistic practices and rituals including ancient Cacao Ceremonies, Gratitude Rituals, Soul Readings, Tai Chi, Yoga, Sound Healing practices, and meditation. There are also a number of experiences at the jungle-based Atlantis Spa. Try a Temazcal Ceremony performed by master healers, or book Palmaïa’s Depth experience offering guests an immersion into local culture and eco-systems, witnessing how the Mayan people reconnect with nature.
Palmaïa is based around an all-inclusive “Gifting Lifestyle” concept which means guests enjoy unrestricted access to all the daily wellness classes, Rituals of Sound series, Awen Kid’s Club, à la carte meals and beverages, pool and beachside service, bike-sharing service, Wi-Fi, 24-hour room service and more. Rates start from £873 for an Ocean Front Queen or King Suite based on two adults sharing on an all-inclusive basis; www.thehouseofaia.com.
THE MICHELIN MOB
WHO: For these foodie fanatics, a holiday doesn’t count unless they’ve had a gastronomic experience to write home about. They book these experiences often years in advance and are instantly recognisable due to their smug smiles, and billowing linen ensembles (perhaps to hide any signs of a paunch!).
WHERE: Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco.
WHAT: This palatial oasis, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, has just appointed multi-starred chef Hélène Darroze as culinary director of its restaurants: La Grande Table Marocaine, La Table, Le Jardin and Sesamo. Darroze took over from chef Yannick Alléno, and this is her first culinary foray outside of Europe. In 2021, Hélène Darroze received two Michelin stars for her restaurant Marsan by Hélène Darroze in Paris and three stars in London for her restaurant, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught. In 2022, she obtained a star for Hélène Darroze at Villa La Coste, which she opened in the Provençal palace a few months earlier. She now has six Michelin stars to her name. Hélène is also the head of Jòia by Hélène Darroze, a bistronomic restaurant created in 2018, and Jòia Bun, which opened its doors in March this year and serves gourmet burgers and sumptuous street food.
As for the hotel, it is an ode to traditional Moroccan architecture and craftsmanship, and is a peaceful, private retreat just steps from the Medina, with an open-air courtyard and four acres of lush gardens. Guests stay in private multi-storey Riads dotted along pink pathways.
There is plenty of scope to work up an appetite, or work off dinner. From escapades in the Agafay Desert on quad bikes, desert hikes on horseback, and discovering the Atlas mountains where Berber villages, mountain pastures, craggy massifs and panoramic views are assured. More leisurely is a wander through the evocative Jardin Majorelle. One-bedroom Riads start from £1,200, which includes breakfast, Immigration Fast Track service and airport transfers in Marrakech; www.royalmansour.com.
THE BAREFOOT BOHO BABES
WHO: These travellers were early adopters of the “no news, no shoes” aesthetic and having worked their way through the entire Six Senses portfolio are on a quest to discover newer properties exuding laidback quiet luxury.
WHERE: AlmaLusa Comporta, Portugal.
WHAT: Having opened in November 2022, this luxury escape is an 80-minute drive from Lisbon on Portugal’s chicest coastline, often called “Europe’s Hamptons”.
Start the day with breakfast at the Duna Room, before choosing how you will explore the coast. There are nifty 4×4 buggy rentals for adrenaline junkies, more leisurely bicycle tours and horseback riding available – one of the main attractions is Comporta’s beach, which is a magnet for surfers and paddle boarders. For those not keen on cresting the waves, the wildlife is breathtaking, with the opportunity to spot pink Flamingos (in the winter months) and watch dolphins from boats that sail through the incredible landscapes of the Sado Estuary, Troia coast and Arrabida.
In the evening, soak up the sunset and views over the infamous rice fields that carpet Comportra, from the hotel’s Roof Terrace which offers supper, sunset tapas, and cocktails with music, courtesy of the resident DJ. Rooms start from €160 per night and suites from €200 per night; www.almalusahotels.com.
THE BUCKET LISTERS
WHO: These travellers never miss an opportunity to tick off one of the fabulous hotels on the ever-growing list bookmarked on their phone.
WHERE: Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond, Scotland.
WHAT: Set on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, in The Trossachs National Park , lies Cameron House Hotel – its allure all the more compelling given its recent restoration. The decor of the hotel’s 17th-century Auld House was inspired by the landscape and incorporates 14 elegant suites by Glaswegian design legends, Timorous Beasties. Alternatively, guests can retire to the recently opened Lomond Wing, a multi million-pound extension with 68 stunning new suites.
Located approximately two miles north of the hotel is its award-winning spa, with ESPA treatments, and a stunning rooftop infinity pool with views across the championship-standard Carrick golf course, and the Scottish Highlands. Other highlights include the hotel’s newly launched 29-seat Cameron Cinema. Bucket-listers can enjoy seaplane trips across the loch, and a round of golf on its 18-hole Championship golf course, host of The Ladies’ Scottish Open, the PGA Cup, and the Europro Tour. One night in a classic double at Cameron House Hotel on a B&B basis costs from £470; www.cameronhouse.co.uk.
THE CULTURE CLUBBERS
WHO: Easily spotted wearing their Swatch x Jean-Michel Basquiat Collection watch and toting a jute bag from The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, this tribe will travel the globe from one exhibition to the other. This summer it’s all about the Vermeer show at the Rijksmuseum, which also hosts an annual summer sculpture exhibition in its grounds.
WHERE: The Dylan Amsterdam, Holland.
WHAT: Located on the picturesque Keizergracht canal, the 17th-century Dylan hotel has 40 rooms and suites spread across two canal-side buildings. The hotel’s brasserie, Occo, is chic and casual, while the Michelin-starred Restaurant Vinkeles is built in a former 18th-century bakery. Double rooms are from €350 per night including breakfast; www.dylanamsterdam.com.